Projects

Maple Hill Farm is a 239 acre property spanning both sides of Chestnut Plain Road.
Whately Land Preservation, working with the Franklin Land Trust, has obtained preservation restrictions that will protect this
important land from wide scale development.
Funding to cover the remiaining money owed has been raised from local donors. Thanks very much to all who contributed! Learn more

W&W and Wykowski Farms are 119 acres of adjoining farmland on Long Plain Road that will now be protected from development by Agricultural Preservation Restrictions (APRs).
This is being made possible through the efforts of Whately Land Preservation, Franklin Land Trust, and the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources. Learn more

Our Mission

Whately Land Preservation is a community organization established by local residents to help preserve our town’s rural
character. Our farms and forests have sustained generations of townspeople who have worked these lands or enjoyed their bounty and beauty.

Yet, like so many other rural communities, Whately faces development pressure—pressure that in other places has quickly turned forests
into subdivisions and farmland into asphalt. Our mission is to work with land-owners to protect Whately’s most valued open spaces and natural
resources for generations of residents to come.

Did You Know?

Saving land saves money. Cows don’t go to school and trees don’t call 911, so an acre of farm or forest land typically requires only
37 cents in town services for every property tax dollar it contributes.1

Residential development may grow the tax base, but it doesn’t often pay for itself. On average, residential development requires $1.19
in town services (schools, roads, ambulance, etc.) for every dollar contributed in property taxes.1

Whately’s land area is 13, 227 acres. Of this, 66% is forestland and 19% is farmland. Only 9% of the town’s total land area is
permanently protected from development.

Whately’s natural areas support 10 state-listed rare species, including the Dwarf Wedgemussel, which is on the Federal endangered species list.

In a 2006 survey of town residents, over 70% of those who responded said preserving farms and farmland is very important to them; more
than 90% indicated that protecting drinking water supplies is very important.

Join Us!

Please help support Whately Land Preservation's efforts to maintain Whately's rural character, healthy environment, and pleasant living conditions
for future generations. Contributions to WLP will help fund our efforts to preserve farmland, forests, and open space. Learn more